“We thank God, who through the power of the Holy Spirit has guided the Cardinal electors to select Robert Cardinal Francis Prevost to be the Vicar for Christ on earth. As Pope Leo XIV prepares to begin his role as Pontiff, let us unite in prayer for him and his ministry. As Catholics in America, let us pray especially for Leo XIV, that the Holy Spirit continue to guide him as he begins his service to the Catholic Church throughout the world.” – Bishop Mark Brennan on the election of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as our 267th pope.
A glimpse of our new Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, according to a variety of Vatican journalists that put together the College of Cardinals Report and an article from the Chicago Sun Times:
The 69-year-old pontiff was born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago and is of French, Italian, and Spanish descent. His parents are Louis “Lou” Marius and Mildred “Millie” (Martinez) Prevost.
He was elevated to cardinal in 2023 by Pope Francis and since then has led the Vatican office that selects and manages bishops. He is fluent in several languages including English, Italian, Spanish, French, and Portuguese.
According to a May 3rd article from the Chicago Sun Times the Prevost family – Robert, his two brothers (Louis and John), and his parents were dedicated to their parish, St. Mary of the Assumption – in south suburban Chicago as altar boys, lectors, and volunteers.
He entered the novitiate of the Order of Saint Augustine (OSA) in 1977 and made his solemn vows in 1981.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Villanova University in 1977, a Master of Divinity from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, and licentiate and doctorate in canon law degrees from the Pontifical College of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome.
He was ordained a priest in 1982, and joined the Augustinian mission in Peru in 1985 and served as chancellor of the Territorial Prélature of Chulucanas.
He returned to the US in1987 to serve as pastor for vocations and director of missions for the Augustinian Province of Chicago before returning to Peru where he spent the next ten years heading the Augustinian seminary in Trujillo and teaching canon law in the diocesan seminary.
In 1999, he returned to Chicago and was elected provincial prior of the “Mother of Good Counsel” province in the archdiocese. Two and a half years later he was elected prior general of the Augustinian and served two terms until 2013.
In 2014, he returned to Peru when Pope Francis appointed him apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Chiclayo.
He was elevated to Bishop of Chiclayo in 2015, and served as vice-president and member of the permanent council of the Peruvian Bishops’ Conference from 2018 to 2023. (During that time, Peru’s bishops reportedly played an important role in ensuring institutional stability during the successive political crises that led to the overthrows of successive presidents.)
In 2020 and 2021, Prevost served as apostolic administrator of Callao, Peru.
After Pope Francis appointed him as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops in January 2023, making him responsible for selecting bishops, on September 30th of that year, Pope Francis elevated Prevost to the rank of cardinal.
As prefect he was described as characteristically discreet in the media, appreciated for his ability to listen, and has a great understanding/mastery of issues. He was also a member of seven Vatican dicasteries as well as the Commission for the Governance (Governatorato) of Vatican City State, indicating how much Pope Francis trusted him and values his administrative abilities.Editor’s note: To read the Chicago Sun Times feature article by Lauren FitzPatrick go to: https://chicago.suntimes.com/religion/2025/05/03/robert-prevost-pope-francis-conclave-catholic-church-dolton-saint-mary-assumption-parish
